Betty Campbell — Stewartville

Betty R. Campbell, 84, a longtime rural Stewartville resident, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015, of natural causes at her daughter's home in Castle Rock, Colo.

Betty Ruth Thompson was born Dec. 30, 1930, in Idaho, to Eldon and Virgie (Lynch) Thompson. She moved with her family as a young girl to Arcadia, Utah, where she grew up and attended school. She moved to San Diego, Calif., and lived with her aunt while attending art school and studying cosmetology. It was in San Diego where Betty met Richard Campbell, who was serving in the U.S. Navy Medical Corps. They were married in 1947 in Arcadia, Utah, and then moved to the rural Stewartville area. They moved to the Campbell Family homestead in Pleasant Grove Township in 1958 where they farmed for many years and raised their family.

Betty was a homemaker, and as her children grew older was employed at the State Hospital in Rochester as a psychiatric nurse assistant, and also taught for two years at the Rochester School of Cosmetology. Betty had an antique barber's chair in her home and was the local barber/beautician for family, friends, neighbors and members of her church. She returned to school, and received her Licensed Practical Nursing certification in psychiatric nursing. After the State Hospital in Rochester was closed, she was employed at the State Hospital in Moose Lake, Minn. Richard was a longtime farmer and was also employed for 20 years at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Mr. Campbell died on Nov. 19, 1985. Betty continued living on the farm before moving into Stewartville in 2014 and then to her daughter's home in Colorado in May of this year. She was a past member of Marion Church of Christ in southeast Rochester. She enjoyed playing 500, board games and knitting, and gave many baby blankets and hats to her family. She enjoyed time spent with family, especially her grandchildren.

Betty is survived by two daughters and one son, Charlene (Denny) Rogers of Castle Rock, Colo., Marlene (John) Struthers of rural Stewartville, and Richard (Cheryl) of Cloquet, Minn.; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Amos Gagon of Roosevelt, Utah.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard,; her parents; an infant grandson; an infant brother, Sterling, and 10-year-old sister, Maxine; her sister, Flora Gagon; and brother, Gary Thompson.

In keeping with Betty's wishes, no services or visitation will be held. A private family burial will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, where her cremains will be buried alongside her husband's.

Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville, www.griffin-gray.com.